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Farm teams can't hit club's .500 goal

September 16, 2005 1:06 am

By TODD JACOBSON

When Nationals player development director Adam Wogan set goals for this season, .500 seemed a reasonable mark for Washington's minor-league system.

Its six U.S.-based teams were a combined 104 games below the break-even mark a year ago, and, "That's the goal we wanted and talked about," Wogan said. "So obviously we are disappointed."

There were highlights this season for the Nationals' much-maligned farm system--namely the quick rise of 2005 draft pick Ryan Zimmerman--but as a whole, the organization didn't come close to .500.

From Triple-A to the rookie level Gulf Coast League, the Nationals' farm teams were 301-387, a small improvement over 2004 but hardly the jump team officials wanted.

None of the system's teams had a winning record. None made the playoffs. Four of the six finished last in their conference or division.

A decade ago, the system was the jewel of the minor leaguers, producing stars like Vladimir Guerrero, Larry Walker, Pedro Martinez and Jose Vidro.

"As far as the pool of players in our farm system, although it's improved, we have a long way to go and you don't redo a farm system overnight," general manager Jim Bowden said. "You have to do it one draft at a time. So it takes four to five years to get it back to where you wanted to get it."

The immediate returns from the Nationals' 2005 draft were excellent. Zimmerman spent less than three months in the minors before he was promoted, and he probably won't play in the minors again.

He's the first homegrown Nationals player to make the majors.

But the system's depth was exposed the most, Wogan said.

Never was that problem better illustrated than when the Nationals went in search of a fourth and fifth starter to replace injured Ryan Drese and Tony Armas Jr. the last month.

They tried Triple-A lefty Matt White and Double-A righty Darrell Rasner. When that failed, the Nationals turned to a bullpen committee to handle the starting duties because there were very few other options in the minors.

"We are still developing depth," Wogan said. "You can look at a lot of guys that stick out, but from top to bottom, the system is still a work in progress."

A system's win-loss record isn't the only barometer of its worth.

Several minor-leaguers had breakout seasons, including low Single-A Savannah's Collin Ballester, high Single-A Potomac's Frank Diaz and Kory Casto and Double-A Harrisburg's Armando Galarraga.

Rick Short's run at .400 at Triple-A New Orleans was a highlight, as was Brandon Watson's re-emergence as an outfield prospect.

But one important ingredient was missing: wins.

"In the minor leagues the most important thing is developing players," Bowden said. "The reason I want to win is I want to develop winning players. So my philosophy is you develop first, but I want to the team to win. I want the players who are prospects and developing learning how to win."

Before right-hander Hector Carrasco started against the New York Mets Tuesday, his last start came in 2000 while he was with the Boston Red Sox.

He was a different pitcher then.

Carrasco, who will never be confused with a starting pitcher but has been thrust into that emergency role with the Nationals, has quietly enjoyed a breakout season in Washington because of one pitch: a changeup.

He has a 2.19 ERA in 60 games this season, and will start for the second time this season tomorrow against the San Diego Padres. He allowed one run in four innings against the Mets Tuesday.

His career seemed over when he spent the 2004 season with the Kintetsu Buffalos of the Japanese Pacific League, but thanks to a refined changeup, he has resurrected his career.

His fastball had always been dangerous, reaching 94 or 95 mph, but the deceptive changeup--which was tweaked during a few tutoring sessions with Nats pitching coach Randy St. Claire--has become a dangerous out pitch.

"He can throw it at any time and throw it for strikes," manager Frank Robinson said. "It's a very effective pitch for him. I want to learn how he throws it, keep it in mind, maybe teach it to someone else."

Right-hander John Patterson is expected to start today after missing an outing Tuesday because of a sinus infection.

According to MLB.com, catcher Brian Schneider will not play this weekend because of a sore right shoulder.

The Nationals are still chasing the wild card and .500, but have already clinched a better record than last season. At 76-72, they've easily eclipsed last year's 67-95 mark.

To reach TODD JACOBSON:540/374-5440tjacobson@freelancestar.com